The Los Angeles Lakers are going into this offseason with little cap space and few trade assets.
They will be looking at veteran minimum players to round out the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
However, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka has stated publicly they will be looking to acquire a third star to pair with James and Davis.
Even with few trade assets, the Lakers have been in numerous trade rumors this offseason.
One target they have been linked to is Victor Oladipo, All-Star guard of the Indiana Pacers.
Oladipo is coming off an injury-plagued year that saw him still rehabbing from the ruptured quadriceps tendon he suffered in January 2019.
He should still have plenty of value on the trade market.
Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley believes the Lakers could put together a strong enough package to acquire Victor.
In his latest trade scenario article, Buckley has the Lakers shipping Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, and Talen Horton-Tucker to Indiana.
Buckley believes Green is the worst contract on the Lakers’ books.
The Lakers would receive Oladipo in return.
Buckley believes Green’s 3-point shooting and playoff experience would be valuable to an Indiana team who “hasn’t seen the second round since 2014”.
Kuzma and Horton-Tucker would be young players with untapped potential to factor into their future.
Meanwhile, Oladipo would give the Lakers a Big 3 to help their pursuit of back-to-back titles.
Lakers Reportedly Have Interest in Oladipo
According to a senior writer at Heavy.com, Brandon Robinson, the Lakers still have an interest in Oladipo.
Lakers, Mavs also have interest in Pacers PG Victor Oladipo.
List also includes: Knicks, Suns, Raptors, Nets, Timberwolves. https://t.co/5sKfmHl2Ln
— 👑📍Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, M.A. (@ScoopB) September 29, 2020
Oladipo has missed 100 games the past 2 games due to injury.
It seems that has not deterred the Lakers as he is only 1 year removed from being an All-Star.
If he can regain even a portion of the form that made him a 23 PPG scorer in 2018, he would be a scary third option in LA.
Oladipo would provide the consistent third option the Lakers need while also taking some of the playmaking burdens off of James.
Dipo is also only 28 years old and could continue to grow next to Davis if both decided to stick around in the City of Angels.
Lakers Giving Up Too Much?
ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst believes the Lakers would be giving up too much in the proposed trade for Oladipo.
Windhorst talks about the theoretical trade during a recent episode of his podcast.
Windhorst saying that Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, and a first is too much for Oladipo lmao. I have never wanted him to be right more than right now. Vic’s value has to be in hell if this is too much. pic.twitter.com/0QKfweFwqD
— Black Lives Matter (@Freak_Ke) October 19, 2020
Windhorst may have a point.
On top of being injury-prone, Oladipo will be a free agent after the upcoming season.
Unless the Lakers can get a guarantee he would resign, trading 2 valuable role players and a draft pick (in this scenario) for 1 year of Oladipo could potentially backfire.
Kuzma is 3 years younger and only 1 year removed from being considered a potential star.
Green is a 3-time champion and a career 40% shooter from 3.
The Lakers may be able to get more in return for those two than an injury-plagued shooting guard.
If Oladipo can be acquired for less, it would be a shrewd move by the Lakers.
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